Diwali Gift
It is Anandi and Shiv's first Diwali after being married. The Diwali at Kesar Buag was very special as it was the first for the entire family at Kesar Buag and also as it was Shiv and Anandi's first after being married. Anandi had decorated her entire home with diyas. She had made a beautiful rangoli in the aangan as well as the main hall. Everyone was very happy other than Ira as Saachi had gone off to some tour. Anandi had tried to cheer her up but it was of no use. Dsa's advice to value Anandi was heard from one ear and out the other. Shiv saw her make efforts and every effort of her go down the drain too.
Anandi was in their bedroom getting ready for the Laxmi poojan. Shiv saw her and was mesmerized by her beauty. She was dressed in a red and yellow lehariya ghagra choli. Her makeup was light and her jewelry as elegant as her. She was glowing and looking more beautiful than ever before. Shiv came and stood behind her. He had got gajras for her. She never put them but he loved the scent of it. He was just beginning to get crafty.
Anandi: Shiv aap mere liye ye gajre kyun late hain?
Shiv: Anandi main chahta hoon ki aap inki khushboo se mehak uthe jaise aapki khushboo se mera jeevan mehak utha hai.
Anandi: Shiv kya kar rahe hain?
Shiv: Kaala teeka laga raha hoon kahin meri hi nazar na lag jaaye.
Anandi: Shiv apno ki nazar nahi lagti. Arre ab ye kya kar rahe hain?
Shiv tied a silken sash on her eyes. He took her carefully out of the room and down the stairs.
Anandi: Shiv mujhe kahan lekar jaa rahe hain?
Shiv: Mujhpar bharosa nahi hai?
Anandi: Shiv mujhe sabse zyaada aap par bharosa hai.
Shiv: Toh bas chup.
Shiv carefully made her sit on the front seat of the car. He must have driven the car for 30 minutes and then stopped. He brought her out of the car. Shiv untied the sash and Anandi slowly opened her eyes. They were standing on front of a house beautifully decorated with alternate flower and angel light strings. Shiv gave her a small box. Anandi opened it and saw a set of keys in it.
Anandi: Shiv ye chabiyaan?
Shiv: Happy Diwali Anandi. Welcome home.
Anandi: Home? Kiska ghar hai ye Shiv?
Shiv: Aapka, mera, humaara ghar.
Anandi: Ye aap kya keh rahe hain Shiv? Humaara ghar? Hum Udaipur mein hi rehkar apne parivaar se alag ghar nahi basa sakte Shiv. Hum apne parivaar se door nahi reh sakte.
Shiv: Anandi ek hi ghar mein rehkar hum alag rahen iss se accha hai ki hum alag ghar mein rehkar unke paas rahe. Anandi hum ghar se door ho rahe hain apne parivaar se aur apne parijano ke dil se door nahi.
Anandi: Shiv aaj Diwali hai. Laxmi poojan ke din ghar ki laxmi ghar se alag ho ye acchi baat nahi hai Shiv.
Shiv: Anandi Kesar Buag mein Griha Laxmi hai. Ma aur Choti ma. Aaj meri ghar ki Laxmi yaani ki aap humaare ghar mein apna griha pravesh karengi. Iss mein kuch ashubh nahi hai. Sab shubh hi shubh hai.
Anandi was hesitating to move into a new home with Shiv. She did not want to take away a son from his family. Shiv knew exactly how to make her understand.
Anandi: Shiv gharwale kya kahenge? Kya sochenge?
Shiv: Anandi unhe koi problem nahi hogi. Wo samjhenge ki ye sab hum ma aur Saachi ke liye hi kar rahe hain. Anandi dekhiye last year bhi aapko pata hai na Saachi hum dono se naraaz thi aur wo Diwali par nahi aayi. Iss baar bhi dekhiye wo ghar par nahi hai. Anandi aap aise sochiye ki hum ghar parivaar se door nahi ja rahe balki hum Saachi ko ghar parivar ke paas la rahe hain.
Anandi understood his point and she too was thinking of a way to get Saachi back from the path of hatred and misunderstandings she had taken. If this was the way then so be it. Anandi took the keys and she opened the door. Just as she opened the door the crackers were lighted and Anandi hugged Shiv as she was scared of them.
Shiv: Jai ho pathake banane waalon ki.
Anandi: Jai ho Mahi bhaiyya ki boliye. Pichhle saal bhi unhone hi aapke liye jugaad kiya tha aur iss saal bhi.
Meenu came with the arti thali. She welcomed Anandi into her new home. Mahi too was there. Anandi was very happy with them being there. The pundit was there and Shiv and Anandi first did the Griha Shanti poojan and then the Laxmi poojan. Choti ma and Mahi left to go to Kesar Buag, Anandi and Shiv did not as the home should not be locked after the Laxmi poojan. Anandi and Shiv lighted diyas to decorate their new home. They were sitting on the wooden swing watching the neighborhood children light crackers. The air was filled with the sounds of the bursting crackers and the sweet sounds of the children.
Shiv: So kaisa laga mera gift?
Anandi: Mere gift ke saamne toh kuch bhi nahi hai.
Shiv: Hello madam ghar diya hai gift mein.
Anandi: Hello sirjee baby de rahi hoon gift mein.
Shiv looked at her with his mouth open. He could not believe what she had said.
Shiv: Kya kya kaha aapne? Baby? Humara baby?
Anandi: Nahi padosiyon ka. Main koi baccha chor hoon ki aapko kisi aur ka baccha doongi? Happy Diwali Shiv meri taraf se. Happy Diwali papa baby ki taraf se.
Shiv just looked at her smiling face. He had happy tears in his eyes. His gift was certainly nothing compared to the gift she was giving him. He pulled her into a bone crushing hug and in a second let her go. He placed his hand on her stomach and wished Happy Diwali to the baby. He kissed her on the forehead as they were outside. Shiv lifted her in his arms and took her inside the house. He kissed her face at least a dozen times and said thank you to her again and again. After sometime Shiv went and closed the main door.
It was the best Diwali of their lives so far and the first of many more to come. Shiv gifted Anandi a home as a Diwali gift and she gave Shiv a family to live in that home and fill it with love, laughter and happiness.
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